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Launch of Opioids and Benzodiazepines: Safe Prescribing for Midwives Course

CMBC is pleased to announce the launch of the Opioids and Benzodiazepines: Safe Prescribing for Midwives course, which is now open for registration!

Completion of this advanced online education course is a requirement by the College of Midwives of British Columbia (CMBC) for all Registered Midwives to independently prescribe, order, and administer opioids and benzodiazepines for pain management during labour and the immediate post-partum. The launch of this course coincides with the recent amendments to the Midwives Regulation which expands a midwife’s scope in this way.

As of renewal, April 1, 2017, registered midwives will be able to begin prescribing according to CMBC’s Standards, Limits and Conditions for Prescribing, Ordering, and Administering Controlled Substances once certified by CMBC after successful completion of this education course. Midwives will have three months to complete the course. The Certificate of Course Completion must be included and uploaded in your registration renewal application, which is due March 1, 2017.

Course DetailsFormat: Online, self-paced. Progress is tracked so learners may easily come and go.Time Required: Approximately 10-15 hours, including final examination.Structure: 16 chapters, nine case studies, downloadable resources, and a final exam.Exam requirements: 90-minute ‘open book’ final exam. Following successful completion of all course requirements including passing the final exam with a score of 70% or higher, learners will be issued a ‘Certificate of Course Completion’.Tuition: $200 for BC midwives; $300 for out-of-province midwives. Note: Tuition for BC midwives has been subsidized by the Midwives Association of British Columbia.

For more information about the online course or registration, please contact:

For information about CMBC regulatory requirements and deadlines associated with this course, please contact:Louise Aerts, Registrar & Executive Director, College of Midwives of BC, registrar at cmbc.bc.ca; 604-742-2234